START OF ROAD TO REDEVELOPMENT

Back at the end of the 1990s, Moffat and District Community Initiative delivered a survey questionnaire to every household in the town, seeking views on what people felt was needed to be done to take the town into the 21st Century.  It wasn't until late 2001 that the Initiative was able to move from being a group of volunteers who regularly met round a table to being able to secure funding to have an office with someone working part-time.  This preamble is necessary in case it leaves you wondering!  The first item from the list that evolved from the survey was that walking in Moffat needed enhancing and so an Annual Walking Festival (that has become a sustainable event in the town's calendar) and various walk leaflets, etc. were initiated.

In 2003, work on another major request began - to introduce a project for the renovation of Moffat Town Hall.  For any of you reading this post and about to start your own public building redevelopment, probably the most important attribute is to have patience.  A large amount of research work was carried out by Moffat Initiative and it was in 2006 that it was decided that this project needed its own group.  Peter Beck-Samuels had recently joined the Board of Moffat Initiative and offered to lead such a group and so Moffat Town Hall Redevelopment Trust was born.  It has to be said here that it is unlikely the project would have progressed as it has without the work and leadership of Peter, for whom at times it has been a full time +++ occupation.

Here we are 7 years later with the very delightful sight of the Town Hall scaffolded and under green tarpaulin-type protection with workmen scurrying about.  Plus as you will have read in my blog the other day, real benefits from the redevelopment are already evident.   

So, readers just starting out on projects, when the going gets tough, remember the words of the Moffat Town Hall Trust blogger ..... have patience, patience, patience and you'll reach your destination in the end !